About the Buckeyes (11-2): Ohio State's two losses have come against ranked opponents, Duke and Kansas. In those games, the Buckeyes shot miserably from beyond the arc (26% vs. Duke, 29% vs. Kansas). They'll need to shoot well to keep pace on the road against the run-and-gun Illini. Deshaun Thomas (19.9 points, 7 rebounds a game) has been the difference-maker all season, and OSU will need him to take advantage of weaker front lines.

About the Illini (13-2): After Illinois fell to rival Missouri on Dec. 22, it blew a double-digit lead before escaping 81-79 against Auburn. To come out of a loaded Big Ten above .500, first-year coach John Groce's Illini must continue to play fast and shoot well. That didn't happen in the opener, a 68-61 loss at Purdue. We could see a downturn reminiscent of last season's collapse. That means D.J. Richardson, Tracy Abrams and the rest of Illinois' guards will have to step up to the level of star Brandon Paul.

The matchup: The rest of the nation might need a reminder who All-America candidate Paul is, but Ohio State knows firsthand of the Illinois guard's ability after he scored 43 points in the Illini's win last season against the Buckeyes. If Paul and his teammates are making their three-pointers, Ohio State could lose this one. Stopping OSU's Thomas will be a difficult task for the inferior Illini big men.

Our pick: Illinois

Bucknell at No. 12 Missouri | Saturday, 4 p.m., ESPN3

About the Bison (13-2): Bucknell has played a handful of strong teams, but Missouri will easily be its toughest test, with the Bison's most notable win coming against Purdue. This is the last non-conference game leading into Patriot League action and fighting Lehigh for an NCAA tournament bid. Mike Muscala is a superstar big man, averaging 18.9 points and 10.7 rebounds a game, while Bryson Johnson and Cameron Ayers handle scoring duties on the perimeter. The 13-2 start is the best in program history.

About the Tigers (10-2): The arrival of Oregon transfer Jabari Brown gives Missouri another needed offensive weapon. After sitting out the first nine games of the season, Brown wasted no time picking up the offensive slack once he became eligible, scoring 18 points in the Tigers' win against Illinois. Laurence Bowers (16.9 points, 6.9 rebounds) leads the Missouri offense, while point guard Phil Pressey (12.8 points, 7.3 assists) directs traffic. Missouri is coming off a 97-94 overtime loss at UCLA and is looking for a bounce-back win.

The matchup: This will be Missouri's last game before making its Southeastern Conference debut, and it could be a close contest. Meanwhile, Bucknell has a chance to pull off a huge upset that will only add more notoriety to the Patriot League after Lehigh's first-round upset of Duke in last year's NCAA tournament. Muscala's versatility could catch Missouri off guard. This game could certainly provide an upset.

Our pick: Missouri

No. 10 Gonzaga at Santa Clara | Saturday, 8 p.m., Root Sports

About the Bulldogs (14-1): Gonzaga lost at home to a hot-shooting Illinois team in December but has regained its stride, most recently in a 94-87 win against Baylor. The Bulldogs played only two games on the road during the non-conference portion of the season, so this isn't a road-tested team. Junior 7-footer Kelly Olynyk (15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds per game) has been a key contributor after redshirting last season, while Elias Harris (15.1 points, 7.1 rebounds per game) anchors a balanced Gonzaga offense.

About the Broncos (12-3): Santa Clara had the lead at No. 1 Duke in the second half Dec. 29 before falling 90-77. The Broncos are poised to challenge for the West Coast title after a strong non-conference season. Playing Gonzaga at home in the second conference game will be a chance to make a huge statement. Guard Kevin Foster (19.1 points, 4.5 assists) is a tough matchup, while forward Marc Trasolini (15.7 points, 7.8 rebounds) and guard Evan Roquemore (13.9 points, 6.3 assists) are strong second options.

The matchup: Gonzaga has been hyped as a Final Four sleeper, but the Bulldogs will need to take care of business in conference play to sneak into the top 10.

Our pick: Gonzaga

No. 16 Georgetown at Marquette | Saturday, 2 p.m., ESPN3

About the Hoyas (10-1): Georgetown's non-conference schedule looked loaded at the beginning of the season, but with a cancellation against Florida and games against underachieving teams UCLA and Texas, the Hoyas have yet to pick up a signature win despite going toe-to-toe with Indiana in overtime. Coach John Thompson III's group will get plenty of chances to tally résumé-building wins in the Big East, starting with Marquette. Otto Porter (13.2 points, 7.7 rebounds) and Greg Whittington (12.5 points, 7.4 rebounds) continue to carry the load offensively.

About the Golden Eagles (10-3): Marquette's loss to Butler at the buzzer was respectable, but a 33-point loss to Florida and an upset loss to Green Bay were glaring for a team with aspirations to challenge in a packed Big East featuring six ranked teams. An overtime win over Connecticut on Jan. 1 wasn't a bad start. Vander Blue (13.3 points) and Davante Gardner (12.9 points) pace the offensive attack for the Golden Eagles, who are still trying to find their identity after losing their top two scorers from last season.

The matchup: This will be Georgetown's first true road test and it could serve as a wake-up call for a Hoyas team that has struggled offensively - twice scoring fewer than 50 points this season. Both teams have solid defenses, so this could be a low-scoring affair.

Our pick: Marquette

No. 21 Oklahoma State at Kansas State | Saturday, 1:30 p.m., ESPN3

About the Cowboys (10-2): Oklahoma State is off to a strong start but didn't travel away from home much during non-conference action. In the Cowboys' lone road game so far, they fell to Virginia Tech 81-71. The Cowboys are coming off a respectable 68-67 loss to Gonzaga. Oklahoma State missed a pair of free throws with 8.5 seconds remaining and trailing by two. Freshman guard Marcus Smart (13.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists) has injected life into the team, while Le'Bryan Nash (14.4 points) and Markel Brown (14.2 points) have been consistent performers.

About the Wildcats (11-2): Bruce Weber's team earned a noteworthy upset vs. Florida on Dec. 22, and two other KSU losses have come against ranked opponents. Senior guard Rodney McGruder (13.7 points) continues to be the main catalyst for the Wildcats. Will Spradling (9.5 points a game) has been on a hot streak, scoring a career-high 17 points in the Florida win, while Angel Rodriguez chips in 10.1 points and 4.3 assists a game.

The matchup: Home-court advantage could be the difference-maker in this Big 12 opener for both teams, who will challenge Kansas and Baylor for the conference title. If Spradling and McGruder catch fire, Oklahoma State could be in trouble on the road.